January and February

January-February 2014

November and December were spent mostly in Beijing, with a weeklong trip to Mongolia and a few other social events.  By January, travel had started and after Chinese New Year it went into full swing. 

The high-speed train and modern rail station

Shanghai:

In January, I had an eight-day trip to Shanghai, packed with meetings and visits and interviews and events.  It was fun to explore parts of Shanghai as I ventured out to meet various people in all parts of the city.  I enjoyed Shanghai so much that I considered moving there!  And, just to make sure I took some time out to see more of China, I took the train down from Beijing to Shanghai – high speed, stopping at several big cities and small towns, quick and easy.  

The Shanghai skyline

On my first day in Shanghai, I attended a conference hosted at Shanghai Jiaotong University, a Chinese-UK “joint-venture” school.  The conference was sponsored by the Study Abroad Foundation, a consortium of universities who conduct international study programs, so it was a good networking opportunity for me.  

Over the weekend, a former colleague living in the area came by for lunch and put me in touch with some Ministry of Education contacts while we brainstormed some job prospects. On Sunday, I met a few women for brunch, following up on some contacts I had made in Beijing related to a women’s leadership program.  This led to some outreach to female university graduates to promote US graduate programs to them. 

An evening stroll on the Bund,
the waterfront promendade

Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday were days spent with colleagues at the U.S. Consulate and EducationUSA.  I attended three educational advising outreach sessions, observing the advisor in action.  I conducted one presentation myself, at a high school where most students go abroad (to US, UK, Canada, Australia) after graduation.  My colleague and I participated in an interview with a website for international study programs, and we also held meetings at the Consulate. 

In addition, just to add to the list of networking contacts and visits for my curiosity, I visited NYU-Shanghai and Duke-Kunshan University, both U.S. universities with new programs or campus in the area.  It’s very interesting to see the expansion of education programs going out around the world. 

The new campus of Duke-Kunshan in January,
hoping to be ready for students in August

Making new friends on the ferry!

Of course, I had some time to visit the city and enjoy myself there!  I had to take the ferry one day, and made several new friends in the process. 

I also did some shopping, both at big chains and at local shops (notice the new red purse), had a few great meals, walked miles and miles, got lost, found my way on the subway, and caught up on my work in a few cafés. 

Looking down at the river at "rush hour"

Taiwan:

After Shanghai, Beijing seemed quiet and dull.  And polluted.  So I turned around quickly and left again, for Taiwan.

What do you think, Confucius??

 It was a short visit, but packed with business every day for twelve hours straight.  The first day started early with meetings at the Consulate, a meeting with university reps, a visit to the national library and then to an innovation center, and an educational advising outreach presentation at a university – that was only the first day. It was followed by a second day of meetings with various staff at the Fulbright offices, strategic planning meetings, another school visit and an outreach presentation. 
 

At the National Library in Taipei, there is an "American Corner" -
This is a resource for American culture and information,
including educational advising materials.

On my last day, we started at 6 am with an online presentation for U.S. audiences, then continued with several shorter meetings, and finally a private tour of the National Museum.  It was a great way to end a very busy three days.  

In February, I had another short but busy trip to Hong Kong.  Again, I had indicated to colleagues that I prefer to stay busy and do as much as possible in the short time I am there, and they took me seriously.  There was no sitting around playing mahjong!  

At the University of Macau (U-Mac),
Confucius hangs out in the garden

In Hong Kong, I worked with the EducationUSA advisor and other staff at the U.S. Consulate, as we held various meetings, educational presentations, visits to Ministry of Education venues, universities, and schools, and one really big outreach event sponsored by Citibank and a local college.  Thursday was spent in the city, but Friday we took the one-hour ferry to Macau and spent the entire day and evening there.  What a beautiful location – green, hilly, sunny, tropical, surrounded by water, and civilized – I could definitely live in Macau!  

Downtown Hong Kong
feels like "Chinatown"

I learned a lot about both Hong Kong and Macau, both interesting and surprising.   For example, the locals in Macau are not thrilled with the casinos, and not everyone is wealthy.  Same for Hong Kong – there is money, but there is a lot of development and poverty as well.  Hong Kong has many different neighbourhoods and influences, and some funny combinations.  I definitely felt the influence of Hong Kong on all of the American Chinatowns I have visited – this is where they came from.  

But there was plenty of time to gaze out the hotel window
 at Victoria Harbour

And since I was there to work hard, I booked into a nice hotel and took advantage of the great facilities.  Executive lounge with views of Victoria Harbour, private dining area with personal attention from the friendly wait staff who remember the double espresso each morning, and nice fitness center and pool also with great views. 

Since my work ended on a Saturday, I took an extra day and a half for myself so I could explore the area and enjoy my time there.  The weather did not cooperate for a trip to Victoria Peak, so I will have to return to Hong Kong soon in order to enjoy the sights there.  Instead, on a cool and cloudy day, I went to the “Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple” – there really are that many!  

At the top, there is a large temple and several smaller ones, as well as some other statues and scenery.  It is well-worth the 430 steps to reach the views from the top. 

Plenty of wildlife among the Buddhas

In order to reach the temple, tourists must climb the stairs… what seem like ten thousand of them.  Everyone struggles with the steep climb up and down, so it is a slow stroll, with frequent stops to pose with a Buddha and catch your breath.      

But not all the wildlife are monkeys!

By the end of February, I was back in Beijing to catch my breath and get ready for a jam-packed month of March.  Unpacking, laundry, emails, catching up with work and social life, and planning for several more weeks of travel – the time flies by.